A GP caregiver needs toolkit versus usual care in the management of the needs of caregivers of patients with advanced cancer: A randomized controlled trial

Mitchell, G; Girgis, A; Jiwa, M; Sibbritt, D; Burridge, L

A GP caregiver needs toolkit versus usual care in the management of the needs of caregivers of patients with advanced cancer: A randomized controlled trial

Mitchell, G Girgis, A Jiwa, M Sibbritt, D

Burridge, L

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Trials, 2010, 11
Issue Date:: 2010-11-29

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Mitchell, G	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Girgis, A	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Jiwa, M	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Sibbritt, D https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3561-9447	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Burridge, L	en_US
dc.date.available	2010-11-29	en_US
dc.date.issued	2010-11-29	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Trials, 2010, 11	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	1745-6215	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/22489
dc.description.abstract	Background: Caring for a person with progressive cancer creates challenges for caregivers. However the needs of caregivers are often not assessed or recognised by health care providers. Research is also lacking in this area, with little knowledge relating to effective strategies to address the specific needs of caregivers. This paper outlines a study protocol aimed at developing and evaluating the effectiveness of a general practice-based intervention to better meet the needs of caregivers of patients with advanced cancer.Methods/Design: Two hundred and sixty caregivers will be randomised into each of two arms of the intervention (520 participants in total) through patients with advanced cancer attending medical and radiation oncology outpatient clinics at two tertiary hospital sites. Consenting caregivers will be followed up for six months, and telephone surveyed at baseline, 1, 3 and 6 months following their entry into the study or until the patient's death, whichever occurs first. Assessment and management of the unmet needs of caregivers in the intervention arm will be facilitated through a specifically developed general practice-based strategy; caregivers in the control group will receive usual care. Qualitative interviews will be conducted with a sample of up to 20 caregivers and 10 GPs at the conclusion of their participation, to explore their views regarding the usefulness of the intervention.Discussion: This study will determine whether systematic assessment of caregiver needs supported by caregiver-specific information for General Practitioners is effective in alleviating the unmet needs experienced by caregivers caring for patients with advanced cancer. © 2010 Mitchell et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Trials	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1186/1745-6215-11-115	en_US
dc.subject.classification	General & Internal Medicine	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Cardiovascular System & Hematology	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Humans	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Neoplasms	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Clinical Protocols	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Questionnaires	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Research Design	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Quality of Life	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Health Services Needs and Demand	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	General Practitioners	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Surveys and Questionnaires	en_US
dc.title	A GP caregiver needs toolkit versus usual care in the management of the needs of caregivers of patients with advanced cancer: A randomized controlled trial	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	11	en_US
utslib.for	1103 Clinical Sciences	en_US
utslib.for	1102 Cardiorespiratory Medicine and Haematology	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Public Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CHSP - Health Services and Practice
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	11	en_US

Abstract:

Background: Caring for a person with progressive cancer creates challenges for caregivers. However the needs of caregivers are often not assessed or recognised by health care providers. Research is also lacking in this area, with little knowledge relating to effective strategies to address the specific needs of caregivers. This paper outlines a study protocol aimed at developing and evaluating the effectiveness of a general practice-based intervention to better meet the needs of caregivers of patients with advanced cancer.Methods/Design: Two hundred and sixty caregivers will be randomised into each of two arms of the intervention (520 participants in total) through patients with advanced cancer attending medical and radiation oncology outpatient clinics at two tertiary hospital sites. Consenting caregivers will be followed up for six months, and telephone surveyed at baseline, 1, 3 and 6 months following their entry into the study or until the patient's death, whichever occurs first. Assessment and management of the unmet needs of caregivers in the intervention arm will be facilitated through a specifically developed general practice-based strategy; caregivers in the control group will receive usual care. Qualitative interviews will be conducted with a sample of up to 20 caregivers and 10 GPs at the conclusion of their participation, to explore their views regarding the usefulness of the intervention.Discussion: This study will determine whether systematic assessment of caregiver needs supported by caregiver-specific information for General Practitioners is effective in alleviating the unmet needs experienced by caregivers caring for patients with advanced cancer. © 2010 Mitchell et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/22489